Assig-itok to watebtoww



Aug. 7, 1923. I 1,464,374

A. O. VEST] NE GRIPPING DEVICE OR CLASP Filed Nov. 30. 1921 20 lnvenTor.

8 AndrewQVesHne W36mW W Patented Aug. 7?, lQZ? T on ANDREW O. VESTINE, OF l/VATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, AESIGNOB TO WATEETOYVN PBESSED STEEL COMPANY, OF YVATERTO'WN, MASSACHUSETTS, A COEPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

.GRIPPING DEVICE 01-7. CLASP.

Application filed. November 1 '0 all 7.071030% it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW G. Vnsrrnn, a citizen oi. the United States, and residing; at W at own, county of ldiddlesex State of Eliassachusetts, have invented. an] improvcment in Gripping Devices or Clasps, oi which the following description, in connec tion with the accompanying drawing. a specification, like characters on the drawing; representing like parts.

This invention relates to a gripping: device or clasp such as is used to grip the edge of sheet material either for the purpose oi stretching the sheet material or holding it in place. and the objects oi the invention are to provide an improved device of this type which is sin'iple and inexpensive to manuiacture and which. will afford a firm grip or hold on. the materia In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel teatures will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. l is a side view of a gripping device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view with a part broken out showing the device having a gripping hold on sheet material.

Fig. 3 is a plan View.

Fig. 41- is an enlarged sectional View on the line 4E-4h Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4C.

My improved clasp is of that type having two gripping members pivotally connected together intermediate of their ends and each provided at one end with a gripping jaw and means whereby the application of a pulling strain on said device causes the jaws to increase their grip on the material.

In the device herein. shown the two gripping members are indicated at l and 2 respectively, and they are pivotally connected at 3 and each has at one end a rri 3 )1np jaw 4;. These members may be conveniently made of sheet metal and the pivotal connection between them is provided. for by torming each member with side wings which overlap and are pivoted together. The side wings of the member 1 are indicated at 5 and those of the member 2 are indicated at 6. The wings of the member 5 are formed to set between the wings 6 and the pivot pin 3 so, 1921. Serial no. 518.809.

is inserted through the overlapping wings. The rear ends 7 and 8 of the members constitute iin 'er pieces by which the aws n'iay be opened.

9 indicates a spring situated between the gripping members and tending normally to close the jaws.

The gripping device is propriatc connection by which the desird pulling strain or tension may be applied the material to he gripped which is indi cated at 10. The character of the connection will depend upon the use to which the device is put. In the construction herein shown this connection comprises a member 11 carrying a pulley 12 around which a cord or other flexible connection 13 extends.

The device comprises a construction such that when a pulling strain is applied through the connection 11, such pulling strain will operate to increase the bite oi. the jaws 4i on the material 10. This is accomplished by forming each wing 6 with the extension 14 and providing such extensions with the slot 15 in which is slidaoly mounted a pin 16 that extends from one side to the other of the device. The member 11 is shown as connected to the pin 16. The wings 5 are each provided with an extension 17, each extension having the cam face 18 which engages the pin 16. The cam faces 18 are so disposed that when the pinv 16 moves toward the rear of the slot the engagement of the pin with the cam faces operates to close the jaws toward each other.

It will, therefore, be seen that when pullserurcd to any aping strain is applied to the member 11 there:

by to move the pin 16 toward the rear of the slot, such n'iovement will operate through the cam faces 18 to close the jaws together, and if the jaws are in gripping engagement with an. article 10 then the pulling strain on the member 11 tends to hold the article in position or to stretch the article and will serve to increase the grip of the jaws on the article. The member 11. is herein. shown as formed of a blank of sheet material which is bent or :tolded on itself to embrace the pin 16, as shown at 19., and is also shaped at its rear end to provide the two portions 20 between which the pulley 12 is received and in which it is pivoted.

The connection 11 is situated between the extension 17 of the wings 5 and in order to prevent said connection from moving sidewise and thus getting beneath either of 16 in the slot 15 will be received between the extension 17 and will thus co-operate with said extensions to prevent any lateral shifting movement of the connecting member.

I claim.

1. A gripping device comprising two gripping members pivoted together intermediate of their ends and each provided with gripping jaws at one end, a spring acton the gripping members and tending to close the jaws, one of said members having two side wings each provided with a slot, a pin operating in said slots, the other memher having side wings overlapping the slotted side wings and provided with cam faces with which the pin is adapted to, engage, and a connecting member connected to the pin and by which said pin may be moved in said slots, said pin when moved toward the rear of the slots acting on the cam faces and thereby closing the jaws, said cam faces permitting movement of the pin to the front of the slot without opening the jaws, said gripping members having finger pieces at the ends opposite the jaws by which the jaws may be opened.

2. A. ripping device comprising two gripping members pivoted together intermediate of their ends and each provided at one end with a gripping jaw, one member having two slotted wings andthe other member h aving two wings which are received between the slotted wings and are provided with cam faces, a pin operating in the slots of the slotted wings and acting against the cam faces, and a connection secured to said pin, said connection h avingan np-standin guard portion which is received between the cam. faced wings in all positions of the pin in the slots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ANnnEi v o. vnsrnm. 

